New Orleans' Hosts A Musical Feast for the Irish Famine | WWOZ New Orleans 90.7 FM

Monday, October 06, 2014

Aidan brings lively reels, jigs, polkas and songs to University of St.
Thomas

Austin-based Aidan, a traditional Irish music trio, entertained a gathered crowd Sunday Oct. 5 at the University of St. Thomas' Jones Hall. Sean Nos dancer Erica Braverman also joined in to dance during several tunes.

From left to right: Jeff Moore, Christopher Buckley (fiddle) and Jon Milton played two set of reels, jigs, polkas and a few songs for an enthusiastic crowd at the University of St. Thomas; Jones Hall. The concert was put on by the St. Thomas' William J. Flynn Center for Irish Studies.

For more information about the various programs and activities the Center for Irish Studies has to offer, please contact Lori Gallagher JD, the Center's director at 713-525-3592 or via email at irishstudies@stthom.edu.

Wednesday, October 01, 2014

Teresa Dolan obituary

TeresaDolan (1949 - 2014)

Teresa
Dolan passed away peacefully September 26th surrounded by her daughters and
close friends. She demonstrated amazing courage, strength, and positivity
throughout her illness. She was born in Navan, Ireland July 8, 1949. Her &
her husband, Raymond Dolan, came to Houston in 1977. They were quickly embraced
by the Houston Irish community and soon called Texas home.

They had two
loving daughters, Jessica and Caitriona (with later "adoptions" of Sarah,
Lindsay, & many more). Teresa was a caring and vibrant woman who dedicated
her life to helping others. A RN for over 40 years, she spent most of her career
at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. She will be remembered always for her unwavering
strength, kind heart, amazing smile, and infectious laugh. No one was a stranger
to Teresa. She is survived by her two daughters, Jessica & Caitriona,
siblings: Jim, Paddy, Ailish, Tom, Mary, Josephine, Donal, Bernadette, Peter,
Martha, Louise, Michael, & Sean, and extended adopted family. Teresa is
predeceased by her parents, James & Katherine McKeever, sister Kitty Mongey,
and brother Joseph McKeever. A celebration of Teresa Dolan's life will be held
at St. Thomas More Catholic Church. The family asks that you honor Teresa by
wearing her favorite color, purple. Full service details soon available through
Miller Funeral Services.

The Dolan
family would like to say thank you to the amazing staff at St. Luke's Hospital.
We would also like to thank our adopted Houston family. Ma would be so happy to
know that her daughters are being so well cared for. In lieu of flowers, we ask that those who can donate blood
please do so. Also consider organ donation, so that we can keep giving the gift
of life.

- See more
at:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/houstonchronicle/obituary.aspx?n=teresa-dolan&pid=172602490&#sthash.3jmjGpL4.Ski2k4OS.dpuf

Events

***Just added***Three day introductory Irish dance camp next week: November 24, 25 and 26 from 9-10 a.m in Clear Lake. This is a good way to get the kids out of the house while they are bored during the Thanksgiving break and learn something new. All ages welcome. Email rttew@yahoo.com for more information.

Michael Londra in concert December 4, at Cullen Performance Hall. More info at 713-462-6647.

December 7. Celtic Christmas with Danny O'Flaherty at the University of St. Thomas' Jones Hall. 3910 Yoakum at 2 p.m.

Friday, June 27, 2014

Kelly Kissinger Devlin, born May 24, 1970, in Longview, TX, to Edwin Kissinger and Kathy Hogg, passed away on June 14, 2014, in Houston, TX.

Kelly was preceded in death by paternal grandparents Edwin F. and Grace Kissinger, maternal grandparents Mack and Nancy Yates, and first cousin Jeremy Chapman.

Kelly is survived by her husband Patrick James Devlin, their children Conor James (age 15) and Tara Ann-Kathryn (age 10), brother Eric Kissinger, sister Jennifer Nichols, and her parents Ed and Kathy.

Kelly was an RN who worked for United Healthcare, and previously at the clinic of Dr. Lindy Rachel and Hermann Hospital. Kelly was a wonderful wife and mother whose devotion instilled a terrific strength in her loved ones. Her husband Patrick, lead singer and guitarist of the band Blaggards, credits her with making his career a reality. Kelly very much enjoyed crafts and often made custom keychains, magnets and other trinkets for the band.

A memorial service will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, June 28, 2014, at Ecclesia Church, 1100 Elder Street, Houston, TX, 77007.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Kelly's honor to either of the following:

Bo's Place is a bereavement center offering grief support services to children, ages 3 to 18, and their families who have experienced the death of a child or an adult in their immediate family, as well as programs for grieving adults. Bo's Place is founded on the belief that grieving children sharing their experiences with each other greatly helps in their grief journey.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Kelly Devlin, RIP

Obituary for Kelly Devlin

Kelly Devlin, age 44, born May 24, 1970 in Longview, Texas to Edwin and Kathy Kissinger, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, June 14, 2014 in Houston, Texas.

A memorial service honoring the life of Kelly will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at a time and location to be determined.From Patrick: I'm absolutely gutted to inform you all, my wife (Kelly Devlin) passed away this morning (June 14, 2014).

Thanks to each and every one of you for such amazing support throughout this nightmare.

Tour Schedule Changes for 2014

As many of you already know, Patrick's wife Kelly has been battling breast cancer for the past several years and was recently hospitalized for pneumonia. In light of Kelly's current condition, Blaggards have decided to trim back our national tour schedule and stay more-or-less close to home for the remainder of 2014.

This means we've had to cancel our shows in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Georgetown.

But everything else on our schedule is still happening as planned. Yes, the Ireland Tour is still on!

Even though we won't be traveling quite as much, we still have big plans for this year, including writing and recording a new studio album. We're really excited about the road ahead, and we hope you are too.

Thank you so much for all of your love and support. We couldn't do this without you.

More Tour Dates

Note the cancellations mentioned above! Lots of new Texas dates on the calendar now.

GO, Kelly, GO!!!!

Monday, April 21, 2014

Highland Games & Other important upcoming events.

Check out these Other Important Events

The Celts "invade" Houston April 26 & 27, 2014 for a weekend of music, competitions, food and fun at the Houston Celtic Festival and Highland Games.

The Festival is held at the Houston Farm & Ranch Club and presented by the Houston Highland Games Association. Three stages of rock and traditional Celtic music run continuously throughout the weekend, including a special entertainment stage for kids featuring our own Irish Faerie, Willow and her Giant and storyteller Rickey Pittman. The McAnelly main stage features Scottish singer/songwriter Brian McNeill, international super group Rathkeltair, Houston's own Murder the Stout and Dallas traditional Irish band Flashpoint.

The Ceilidh Stage features local and regional bands Celtic Voyage, Constant Billy, Wyndnwyre, The Traveling Murphy's, The Pirates of Bedlam, Earl Grey in the Morning, Dene Foy and, making their debut at the Festival, the Dead Rabbits. Children and parents alike will have the opportunity to explore the Celtic Nations by visiting our clans and societies and getting their Celtic Passport stamped. At the end of their "journey" a special gift from Walkers Shortbread will be waiting. Arts and crafts featuring the culture of the Celtic Nations will provide take home art. With golf being a product of Scotland, what could be more appropriate than a round of putt putt golf?

The Festival features competitions in bagpipe, Highland dance, and Scottish heavy athletics, including the tossing of the caber, or, as Americans like to say, throwing the telephone pole. The children have their own athletic competition with a wee caber to toss (fence post). For fun, the Festival will host a shortbread competition on Saturday with celebrity judges. On Sunday, to the ladies' delight, we have the Bonniest Knees contest. Blind folded lady judges will determine the beauty and form of kilted gentleman's knees.

***********************************************

05/01/14 - Look Behind You! At the University of St. Thomas

Thursday, May 1, 2014 Look Behind You! A Father's and Son's Impressions of "The Troubles" in Northern IrelandThrough Photograph and Song With Steafán Hanvey

Kelly Devlin (aka Married Patrick Blaggard Devlin) has Inflammatory Breast Cancer. She & Patrickneed our help. Our prayers & helping out (volunteering to drive OR run some errands for her) would be great. But they also could use financial support. To volunteer to help send her a message on FB; To donate to financially, send her a check to Irish Aires, KPFT, 419 Lovett Blvd, Houston, TX 77006. Thanks!

-----------Informal Irish Language Lessons at Jason's Deli

We are located at Jason's Deli. As you enter turn to your left we are at the table by the window to the outside patio.

2611 S Shepherd Square Houston, TX 77098(713) 520-6728

Classes are held each Wednesday evening between 6pm-8pm

Informal group who get together and learn Irish at their own pace. Vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, song, stories and other fun stuff tailored to suit the curious traveler.

$10.00 donation for time and materials

Tim Theisen---------

Austin is trying to start a chapter of the AOH. They need a few more members to make their chapter official. If you have any interest contact Mike Joyce at mpjoyceli@gmail.com ORAOHTexas@yahoo.com

They are the oldest & largest Irish Catholic group in the US. The AOH is a place to meet like minded Irish Americans who share the same values & beliefs.

Their mission is to promote Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity in Austin, TX

This is a local, provisional organization as they recruit new members in Austin, TX and the surrounding communities. The timeline for the organization is to become recognized by AOH nationals by summer 2014; apply for 501(c)3 status; and become a recognized, tax-exempt, charitable organization by no later than 2015.---------

This year is the 97th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Uprising. If you hadn't heard the following, I thought you might be interested. It was done for CBS radio in 1966 for the 50th anniversary. The narrator is Charles Kurwalt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Kuralt) was the narrator:

Come on out and here what we have up our sleeves!The time of the show has been moved up to 7:00 pm, because they close at 9:00 pm!

********************************************

-04/26-27 - Houston Celtic Festival and Highland Games

The Celts "invade" Houston April 26 & 27, 2014 for a weekend of music, competitions, food and fun at the Houston Celtic Festival and Highland Games.

The Festival is held at the Houston Farm & Ranch Club and presented by the Houston Highland Games Association. Three stages of rock and traditional Celtic music run continuously throughout the weekend, including a special entertainment stage for kids featuring our own Irish Faerie, Willow and her Giant and storyteller Rickey Pittman. The McAnelly main stage features Scottish singer/songwriter Brian McNeill, international super group Rathkeltair, Houston's own Murder the Stout and Dallas traditional Irish band Flashpoint.

The Ceilidh Stage features local and regional bands Celtic Voyage, Constant Billy, Wyndnwyre, The Traveling Murphy's, The Pirates of Bedlam, Earl Grey in the Morning, Dene Foy and, making their debut at the Festival, the Dead Rabbits.

Children and parents alike will have the opportunity to explore the Celtic Nations by visiting our clans and societies and getting their Celtic Passport stamped. At the end of their "journey" a special gift from Walkers Shortbread will be waiting. Arts and crafts featuring the culture of the Celtic Nations will provide take home art. With golf being a product of Scotland, what could be more appropriate than a round of putt putt golf?

The Festival features competitions in bagpipe, Highland dance, and Scottish heavy athletics, including the tossing of the caber, or, as Americans like to say, throwing the telephone pole. The children have their own athletic competition with a wee caber to toss (fence post). For fun, the Festival will host a shortbread competition on Saturday with celebrity judges. On Sunday, to the ladies' delight, we have the Bonniest Knees contest. Blind folded lady judges will determine the beauty and form of kilted gentleman's knees.

Exhibitions include the clans (Scottish families), genealogists, historians, and artists. The Celtic Market holds a treasure trove of shopping with everything from kilts and tartan sashes to musical instrument and jewelry. Food vendors offer the delights of Scottish cuisine with haggis, Highland Beef burgers, and meat pies, as well as American festival favorites.

Sponsoring the Festival this year are The British School of Houston, Granite PR, Matt Carter, Steve McIntyre and Walkers Shortbread.

HHGA is 501 (c) 3 charitable organization dedicated to promoting the culture, history and arts of Scotland and the other Celtic Nations. HHGA and its partners will donate over 350 Festival tickets to risk children through a partnerhip with Texas TicKids as well as sponsoring school and community presentations on the effect of the Scots Irish on the development of the US.

Look Behind You! is a multi-media performance by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Steafán Hanvey that details how a father and son (both artists) have negotiated the personal and political landscapes of Northern Ireland.

Using image and voice, anecdote and memory, the performance showcases the prize-winning photojournalism of Steafán's father, Bobbie Hanvey, along with radio-edits of his interviews with some of Northern Ireland's best-known figures.

Parking and Maps: Parking is available for $2 in the Moran Center at West Alabama St. at Graustark St. Campus Maps are available online www.stthom.edu, under About UST, Maps and Directions, or use the search box on the top right corner of the Web site and search Maps.

The Flying Fish Sailors began their journeys in 1988 performing Celtic folk, renaissance music and sea songs, then progressed to originalsongs, humor, parody and folk rock. No strangers to diversity, in their early days the band often played in punk clubs, opening for such notables as The Dead Milkmen, Live Skull, and Shoulders.

In recent times the Fish have opened shows for the legendary British folk rockers Steeleye Span, Brother, Tommy Makem, and Altan. The bands' influences range from The Chieftains to Devo.

Performing acoustic folk music and original comedy, the Flying Fish Sailors bring together elements from diverse musical styles to create a sound uniquely their own. Their shows combine modern and antique instrumentation, and musical styles from many times and cultures: A place where humorous original songs, Renaissance tunes, American and Celtic folk songs converge with classic rock themes, the blues, and even rap and heavy metal influences.+++++++++++++

The RoguesAdvance Tickets: $20.00Ticket price at the door: $22.00

Founded in Houston in 1994, The Rogues created a new genre of Celtic music with exceptionally well-played pipes and driving percussion. From street festivals to Scottish Highland games to performing with a symphony orchestra, The Rogues deliver a commanding performance.

Starting at the Texas Renaissance Festival in 1994, the band soon began performing out of state and added Scottish Highland Games and Celtic festivals and corporate shows. The band has produced it's own theater show called Celtic Crossroads and performed as a guest artist with the Air Force Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC and had music featured in the 2011 film "Kill the Irishman.".

The Rogues have performed in Las Vegas, Scotland, Greece, Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Canada, several cruises and all over the United States. Members of the band have competed all over North America and won 1st place at the World Pipe Band Championships.

The Rogues have produced 10 albums and 2 DVDs to date and are listed in the official Grammy book for several nominations, though falling short of the final 5. The Rogues have a tradition of supporting charities, sometimes holding their own fundraisers supporting individuals and causes for soldiers. The band even has it's own tartan in the Scottish Register of Tartans.